Jazz festivals in Montclair and Morristown on Saturday

Two lively towns, two festivals and one common theme: live music. At the Montclair Jazz Festival, produced by community-arts organization Jazz House Kids, the day's events will be led by award-winning actor S. Epatha Merkerson, while just a short drive away, a roster of artists are scheduled to perform "on the Green" at the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival.

TELL ME MORE: The Montclair event, now in its fifth year, is expected to draw more than 5,000 people for a lineup that includes the 52nd Street Big Band, Louis Armstrong Big Band, Jazz House singers and sax ensemble, Melissa Walker (singing Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln) and Chuchito Valdes, a Cuban-born Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated jazz pianist. Joining emcee Merkerson is festival host and artistic director Christian McBride, Grammy Award-winning bassist.

CHRISTIAN McBRIDE

Morristown will see the return of New Jersey Hall of Fame member and Bergen resident Bucky Pizzarelli's popular Guitar Summit with guests guitarists Frank Vignola, Vinnie Raniolo and Ed Laub, in addition to other performers including Jersey City-based sextet Winard Harper and Jeli Posse and Trio Da Paz, a Brazilian jazz group based in New Jersey.

Jazz festivals in Montclair and Morristown on Saturday

Two lively towns, two festivals and one common theme: live music. At the Montclair Jazz Festival, produced by community-arts organization Jazz House Kids, the day's events will be led by award-winning actor S. Epatha Merkerson, while just a short drive away, a roster of artists are scheduled to perform "on the Green" at the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival.

TELL ME MORE: The Montclair event, now in its fifth year, is expected to draw more than 5,000 people for a lineup that includes the 52nd Street Big Band, Louis Armstrong Big Band, Jazz House singers and sax ensemble, Melissa Walker (singing Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln) and Chuchito Valdes, a Cuban-born Grammy- and Latin Grammy-nominated jazz pianist. Joining emcee Merkerson is festival host and artistic director Christian McBride, Grammy Award-winning bassist.

Morristown will see the return of New Jersey Hall of Fame member and Bergen resident Bucky Pizzarelli's popular Guitar Summit with guests guitarists Frank Vignola, Vinnie Raniolo and Ed Laub, in addition to other performers including Jersey City-based sextet Winard Harper and Jeli Posse and Trio Da Paz, a Brazilian jazz group based in New Jersey.